Year Round Programs for schools across the GTA
Farm・Nature ・Maple Syrup・Leadership Programs
Where fun, co-operative play, and group communication in the great outdoors is our main focus and goal!
905-887-9988
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO!
Our Mission: Green Acres Outdoor Education Centre strives to nurture a passion for Outdoor Education and values through immersive extracurricular school program experiences that transform lives and build community within and beyond our borders.
Whether it’s through our Leadership Program, Spring Farm & Tours, Maple Syrup Tours, Chick Hatching Program or Butterfly Kits, our curriculum based program has something that will fit every groups educational goals. Explore the outdoors while learning how to build and sustain a stronger future for generations to come.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO!
Our Mission: Green Acres Outdoor Education Centre strives to nurture a passion for Outdoor Education and learning through immersive extracurricular school program experiences that transform lives and build community within and beyond our borders.
Whether it’s through our Leadership Programs, Spring Farm & Tours, Maple Syrup Tours or Butterfly Kits, our curriculum based programs have something to fit each groups educational goals. Explore the outdoors while learning how to build and sustain a stronger future for generations to come.
Spring “Travelling” Outdoor Education Tours
This has been such a challenging year for all of us, but we are ready to take our show on the road! Energize your group in an outdoor educational experience right in your own backyard, field or playground.
COVID-19 Safety Protocols:
We are currently working alongside the recommendations of Public Health to deliver safe, outdoor educational programing for all to enjoy. Special attention to Covid-19 safety protocols will be in place as per the following:
- All Educational Instructors will be trained in proper sanitizing techniques with regards hands, touch surfaces, and restrooms.
- All Educational Instructors and those participating in our tours must wear a mask at all times. This will be mandatory. Each group will remain in their cohort (as outlined by the Ministry of Health Guidelines) with their assigned GA Trained Staff for the duration of their tour.
- All activities will take place outside and any shared equipment will be sanitized and disinfected between each group by our trained staff.
Choose from the following tours for one that is right for you.
Nature – Bugs, Bees and All Things Trees! – JK to Grades 3 (2 hours in length)
Investigating the wonderful world of nature, discovering the needs and characteristics of living things as well as the growth and changes in all.
Leadership – Work Together and Stand Tall! – Grades 3 – 8 (2 hours in length)
Discovering the leader within, by carefully designed group activities that will engage and inspire the greatness in your students!
Reduce/Reuse/Recycle – Exploring Sustainability – Grades 3 – 8 (2 hours in length)
How do we learn from the past to help preserve the future? Through our interactive program, students will experience and understand their power in saving the land for their successors!
- Program dates TBD in Fall 2021.
- All programs are 2 hours in length.
- Program Cost: $10.00 per student. Minimum Charge of $150.00.
- No charge for teachers, education assistants or early childhood educators.
- All fees include 1 Parent Volunteer per 7 students.
- Additional Parent Volunteers are the same cost as students.
- A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking to secure program date.
- Final payment is based on number of the students on the day of the program.
- We reserve the right to alter programs due to weather or safety.
SPRING FARM, NATURE & TEAM BUILDING TOURS
Engage your group in the great outdoors for a day of safe, exciting hands on experiences that explore farm, nature and team building. Choose from a half or full day and mix and match activities to build the outdoor adventure that best suits your groups needs.
- Trip dates: May 1st – June 16th
- Half Day Trips: $12.00 per student.
- Full Day Trips: $17.00 per student.
- Low Ropes are not available. Please look to our Leadership program if interested in this option to be included in the tour.
- No charge for teachers, education assistants or early childhood educators.
- All fees include 1 Parent Volunteer per 7 students.
- Additional Parent Volunteers are the same cost as students.
- A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking to secure program date.
- Final payment is based on number of the students on the day of trip.
- We reserve the right to alter programs due to weather or safety.
Leadership Program
Our Leadership Programs are designed and executed with attention to detail in order to promote strategic team building, working together and co-operative learning. Through various Low Ropes, critical thinking games, as well as personalized programs that meet the specific needs of your participants, our goal is to promote the opportunity for success and positivity at every turn.
- Leadership and Low Ropes programs are only available as full day programs (4.5 hours) and ideal for Grades 3 to 12.
- Cost is $30.00 per student (Additional cost for programs longer than 4.5 hours).
- No charge for teachers, education assistants or early childhood educators.
- All fees include 1 Parent Volunteer per 7 students.
- Additional Parent Volunteers are $10.00.
- A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking to secure a program date.
- We reserve the right to alter programs due to weather or safety.
MAPLE SYRUP TOURS
Jump into Spring and tap into Maple Syrup Goodness! Discover the science and wonder behind maple sugaring. Follow the process from tapping to syrup and explore the journey from the Indigenous Peoples to present day.
This program is perfect for school groups, homeschools or community groups and is an interactive way to learn in the great outdoors!
- Trip Dates: March 20th – March 31st Monday to Friday only
- 90 minute Trips Offered Only: $10.00 per person
- Morning and Afternoon tour times offered
- Specific links to Ontario Curriculum – social studies, history & geography, heritage & identity, First Nations, Metis and Inuit studies
MAPLE SYRUP TOURS
We all know how to eat maple syrup, but do we really know how it’s made or where it comes from? Our maple syrup tour will explore the Indigenous Peoples role in it’s making and allow students to participate in the process from tap to treat.
- Trip Dates are March 22, 2021 – April 9, 2021.
- Half Day Trips Offered Only: $8.00 per student.
- Morning and Afternoon tour times offered.
- No charge for teachers, education assistants or early childhood educators.
- All Fees include 1 Parent Volunteer per 7 students.
- Additional Parent Volunteers are the same cost as students.
BUTTERFLY KITS
Participants are given the opportunity to learn and observe the life cycle and stages of the butterfly. Observe the day to day transformation from Egg, to Larva, to Pupa and Butterfly, then the fulfillment of releasing your butterflies into the world.
Spring Sessions:
Session 1: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 SOLD OUT
Session 2: Tuesday May 16, 2023 SOLD OUT
Each kit includes the following:
- 25 Butterfly Caterpillars each in their own container
- Caterpillar “Nutrient” liquid to help them grow
- Instructions and teaching booklet
Costs:
Butterfly Kit $150.00
Butterfly Release House $35.00
*A butterfly release house is required for their transformation from chrysalis into butterflies. You may purchase ours to be used year after year or use one of your own.
Delivery:
Area A: Scarborough, Stouffville, West Hill, Toronto, North York, Thornhill, Maple, Richmond Hill, Aurora – $45.00 drop-off per kit
Area B: Woodbridge, Pickering, Whitby, Ajax, King City, Newmarket – $55.00 drop-off per kit
Most other Areas – $100.00 drop-off per kit
Please note the following:
Full Payment is made at the time of all bookings. Full refund will be issued only if cancellation is requested to the Green Acres Outdoor Education Office 21 days prior to pick up or delivery.